- Ordinary Miracles
When Ordinary Miracles, a play about love, magic and illusion, opened in Istanbul earlier this year, it created a media storm during its sell-out five week run. Now the Open Theatre is launching its international debut with this first Turkish production at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
In the spacious arena of the Gateway, the silver silk drapes float aside and the stage is set for Saturno, a great illusionist to present his extraordinary magical talents. In the audience is the beautiful young woman Joy who is captivated by his power over mind and matter and becomes intent on getting to know him. This fascination leads her to take on the role of his assistant so that she can perhaps learn his perfect art of illusion. But he tells her "there are no miracles - only life." The love story unfolds like an intimate, poetic and beautifully choreographed dance. "It takes two to tango" Joy reminds him, seducing him in her stunning red dress and high heels. Good use is made of recorded thoughts as each character reveals their inner fears and feelings matched by a powerful jazz music soundtrack. Saturno and Joy both have secret, disturbed past lives where "memories are bitter", and no longer feel free to play childhood games.
The drama is interspersed with scenes of real and brilliant magic tricks performed by Saturno, alias Turkey's leading magician and author of the play, Kubilay QB Tuncar. Be warned - you may be invited to participate but how often in life will you assist in a mesmerising act of a man swallowing a dozen sharp needles! An incredible feat in front of my very eyes. More magic in the show would have been appreciated by the audience I'm sure - but, of course, we had to get back to the love-story.
Lale Masur, a famous Turkish actress, plays Joy with a strong and intense manner, so much so that at times I wondered where is the emotion, the true love she says she feels for this man? Yet her breathy, soft voice slowly enunciating each English word is perfect for the poetry of the text. And as a former prima ballerina, she can certainly dance.
Slightly long at around two hours, it could perhaps have benefited with fine editing to tighten up some unnecessary flash-back repetition. Overall however, this is a highly professional and dramatically stylish piece, elegantly designed with superb lighting and sound effects, which would not have been out of place at the Edinburgh International Festival.
"Ordinary Miracles" in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is being performed at the Gateway Theatre until 26th August.
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